Automatic ribbon-reel for stenographs



(No Model.)

-15; F. MAIN. AUTOMATIC 111311011 REEL FOR STENOGRAPHS.

110. 417,861. Patented Dec. 17,1889.

Trad (Li '1 @311 11, 1- 3 fitter/110130 To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED F. MAIN, OF SOUTI-I NEIV LYME, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC RIBBON-REEL FOR STENOGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,361, dated December 17,1889. Application filed February 15, 1889. Serial No. 299,929. (No model.)

Be it known that I, FRED F. MAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at South New Lyme, in the county of Ashtabula and State of Ohio, have invented .a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Ribbon-Reels for ,Stenographs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved attachment for that class of machines which are known as stenographs; and it has for its object to coil the printing-ribbon as it is showing the device in position for operation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken through the winding-drum, and Fig. 3 is a detail "perspective view of the brake-lever.

The same letters refer to the same parts in the several figures.

A designates the frame of the machine, which is attached to a standard 13, which latter in practice may be mounted upon the baseof the stenograph in connection wit-h which the device is to be used.

0 is the main shaft of the device, which is mounted transversely in the frame A, and to which is attached one end of a suitable driving-spring D, the other end of which is attached to one of the cross bars or posts E, which connect the sides of the frame; One end of the shaft O is provided with a key or crank F, by means of which it may be rotated for the purpose of winding the spring, and the said shaft has a ratchet-wheel Gr, suitably secured thereon and engaging a spring-pawl H, which is mounted 011 one side of a gear-wheel I, which latter is journaled upon the shaft O. The wheel I is connected by a train of gears with a transverse shaft J, one end of which extends through the front side of the frame and is provided with a drum K, upon which the printing-ribbon isto be wound as it is being delivered from the stenograph. Theshaft J is in turn connected by a gear-wheel L and pinion M with a shaft N, carrying a friction-wheel O, the periphery of which latter extends somewhat below the sides of the frame A.

Pivoted upon one of the lower corner-posts or cross-bars E is a lever P, to which is attached a brake shoe Q, adapted to bear against the periphery of the friction-wheel O. The outer end of the lever P is bifurcated and carries, a roller R, which by bending the said lever P is caused to be located in the same vertical plane as the drum K upon the shaft J.

In operation this attachment is to be so 10- cated that the roller R and drum K shall be in about the same plane as the ribbon-reel of the stenograph in connection with which the device is to be used. livered from the stenograph, is passed under the roller R, up between the arms of the bifurcated end of the lever P, and to the drum K, to which it is attached. The spring is then wound, and the device is then ready for operation. As the ribbon is being delivered from the st-el'lograph, the free end of the brake-lever Q is permitted to drop, thus releasing the brake-shoe Q, from contact with the friction'wheel O and causing the shaft carrying the drum K to be rotated by the action of the spring, thereby coiling the ribbon upon the said drum. \Vhen the slack in the ribbon has been taken up, the free end of the brake-lever is raised by the action of the ribbon passing under the roller R. The brakeshoe is thus brought into contact with the friction-wheel O, and the ribbon-winding mechanism is thus caused to stop until a slack in the ribbon again occurs.

The ribbon, as it is de- In order to enable the ribbon to be readily detached from the windingdrum and rewound preparatory to being copied in longhand or by type-writer, the said drum is constructed of two thin circular sheet-metal plates P P, the inner one of which P abuts against a shoulder or annular flange F formed upon the shaft J, which said flange is provided with a tooth T to enter a notch N in plate P. Between the two plates a sleeve S is interposed upon the shaft J, and the parts are retained in position by a bifurcated key or wedge adjusted in a groove G upon shaft J and bearing against the outer i disk P It will be seen that this construction of parts enables the printed ribbon to be readily detached and rewonnd, the process of rewinding changing it end for end, so that when it is again unwound it will read correctly. Vhen it is to be copied bya typewriter, it may again be rewound upon the drum K, after passing in front of the typewriter, who may control the speed at which it is being rewound by means of a suitablyarranged treadle controlling the brake-lever, thus avoiding vexatious stops. The ribbon, being finally rewound, may be used over again in the stenograph, thereby saving material.

I would have it particularly understood that instead of the spring herein shown a weight or other suitable motive power may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It will be seen that this device is verysimple in its construction and operation, and that by its use the winding mechanism is antomatically checked as soon as the ribbon ceases to be delivered from the stenograph.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a ribbon -winding attachment for stenographs, the combination of a winding drum composed of a pair of disks and an interposed sleeve mounted detachably upon a shaft, a friction-wheel geared to the shaft of i said dru1n,a pivoted lever having a brakeshoe adapted to bear against the periphery of said friction-wheel, and a roller jonrnaled at the outer end of said lever, substantially as set forth.

In a ribbon -winding attachment for stenographs, the combination, with a winding-drum composed of a pair of disks and an interposed sleeve mounted detachably upon a shaft, of a friction-wheel geared to the shaft of said dru m, a lever having abrake-shoe adapted to bear against said friction-wheel and having its outer end bifurcated and located in the same vertical plane as the said winding-drum, and a roller journaled in the bifurcated end of said lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a ribbon -winding attachment for stenographs, the herein-described windingdrum, comprising, in combination, a shaft having an annular groove and an annular flange provided with a tooth, a pair of disks, one of which is provided with a notch to receive said tooth, a sleeve or core interposed between said disks, and a bifurcated key or wedge, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

FRED F. MAIN.

\Yitnesses:

JOHN ll. CRAIG, HARRY MAIN. 

